Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-09-29
The Henry County Press.

ANt@~~NfN
the aid furnished by the press the great mass
of the people would still be cropping in the
darkness Of the Middle Ages, and knowledge
would still remain confined within the limits
of the cloister.
1t is surprising, when searching our libra
ries, to discover how little has been written
of the "Art preservative of all Arts, y" and tho
educator of all educators. While printing
has been the chronicler of all arts, profess
sions and learning, it has recorded SO little
of its own history and progress as to leave
even the story of its first invention and appli-
cation wrapped in mystery and doubt. We
only know that from the old Rammage press
which Faust and Franklin used, capable of
producing hundred impressions per hour,
we have now the ponderous machine which
turns out one thousand copies per minute.
In glancing over the pages of history, we
discover the grandest developments in the
arts and sciences. We notice that they 20
hand in hand-one discovery points to anoth-
er, one improvement in the arts leads to 9TH
ers continually, and the results of the last
few centuries show that observations of no
apparent use lead to the most important dis
coveries and developments. The falling of
an apple lead Newton to unfold the theory of
grayitation and its relations to the solar sys-
tenn; the discovery of the polarity of the load
stone lead to the construction of the mari
ner's compass; the observation of the mus
cular contraction of a frog lead to the num-
erous applications of galvanic electricity; the
observation of the expansive force of steam
lead to the construction and application Of
the steam engine; the observation of the in
1uence of light on the chloride of silver lead
to the art of photography; the observations
of the communication of sound by the con-
nected rails of railroad lead to the inven-
tion Of the telephone; the impressions taken
from letters cut in the smooth bark of the
beach tree lead to the art of printing-the
art which transmits to posterity a record of
all which is valuable to the world.
Thus is progress, discernable in every sue
cessive generation of man. Gradually has he
advanced from state of rude barbarism and
total ignorance to degree of perfection
which gives him almost absolute dominion
over all elements, and in the pride of glori-
GUS and enlightened manhood he can exclaim
with Cowper:
II am monarch OF all survey,
My right then is none to dispute;
From the centre all sound to the sec,
lam lord OF the foul and brutein
So long as mind shall occupy its seat, so
long will progress be the watch-word Of man,
and onward and upward will be his march to
an endless and limitless assent--where all the
hidden and occult secrets of creation will un-
fold their mysteries to his apprehension and
crown him master of them ALL
The printing Office has we'll been called the
Poor Boys College," and has proved 4 bet
ter school to many, has graduated more in
tellect and turned it into useful, pract ical
channels, awakened more active, devoted
thought, than any alma mater on the earth.
Many Ounce has passed through the univer-
sities with no tangible proof of fitness other
than his insensible piece of parchment-him-
self more sheepish, if possible. than his
'sheep-skin." There is something in the
very atmosphere of printing office calcu-
lated to awaken the mind to activity and in
spire q thirst for knowledge. Franklin, Stan
hope, Beyanger, Theirs, Greedy, Taylor and a
host of names illustrions in the world of let
ters and science have been gems in the dia.
dem of topography and owe their success to
the influence of a printing Office.
The newspaper has become one of the
chief indexes Of the intelligence, civilization
and progress of the community in which it
is published, and it's files are the foot-p rints
of the progress and refinement of the period
of its publication; and the printing Office is
now deemed as essential as the schhool house
or church. 1t has taken the place Of the ros-
trum and the professors chair and become
the great teacher. No party, organization,
enterprise or calling is considered perfect
without its "organ"--the newspaper-as
mouth piece. .ss
Tradition, We have no record, says that in
lSi5, there was sickiy paper, Whig in poll
tics printed in Napoleon BY one Martin
shFenk. twas about the size of the Netes-
letter, the first paper printed In America, i. o.
the size Of q sheet Of letter paper. It was
named The Journal, and died ia bornin'.''
On the Sth day of September, 1852, ts'..
newspaper, in fact, uttered its natal cry fiji
Henry county, It was born in Napoleon and
was christened
THE NORTHWEST.
Itentered life with ''high hopes for low
heaven" praying God to gtantitpatience."
Alpheas M. HoliabauRh was the venturesome
knight who acknowledged its paternity and
assumed its support 1t was an unassuming
folio Of Ave columns, and as visible means
Of support contAtAed less than one column of
ttiseinents Ahd circulation resembling
the shadows Il the gloamings. Sickly as the
infant was u grew in strength, and the first
numbet Of the second yolumn was enlarged
to six column folio. 1t remained under the
parental control Of Mr.. Hollabaugh until
April 10, 1854, when he disposed Of his on
spsing to Thomas S. @. Morrison, who salu-
ted its readers on the 26th day Of the same
month, with an increased circulation and
nine columns Of advertising patronage
Mr.. Morrison continued in the editorial
management and ownership Of the paper nm
til his death. which occufred on the a1st day
March, 1854. After the death Of Mr.. Morri-
son the publication Of the paper and its edi-
torial management was conducted BY John